Jazz Articles about Kevin Norton

A Fireside Chat with Kevin Norton

by AAJ Staff
November 7, 2003

Kevin Norton is one of the most original percussionists my side of the Atlantic. Having documented the music of Anthony Braxton on his Barking Hoop label, Norton, after a handful of convincing releases on the CIMP and Clean Feed labels, continues to advance creatively with Oceans of Earth, a new trio release with like-minded Tomas Ulrich and Joëlle Léandre. An impressively detailed recording, Oceans of Earth furthers the previous The Dream Catcher. Kevin Norton, folks, unedited and in his own ...

Kevin Norton: Change Dance - troubled energy

by Glenn Astarita
April 12, 2002

Percussionist/composer Kevin Norton’s latest production adds a little more amplitude to his stature as one of the leading thinkers and practitioners of progressive jazz. There’s a story behind Change Dance, and Norton approaches these intersecting works via multipart segments, each marked by key focal points that highlight the various instrumentalists.

With this release, Norton enlists an impressive cast for a thematic foray founded upon sinuous movements, long rests between measures, and inventive soloing. On the opener, “Section ...

Kevin Norton & Haewon Min: Play The Music Of Anthony Braxton

by Glenn Astarita
January 1, 2002

Composer/percussionist, Kevin Norton has spent a lot of quality time with the estimable saxophonist/composer, Anthony Braxton. On this production, recorded live at “Roulette” in New York City, Norton and classically trained pianist, Haewon Min, reinterpret or perhaps personalize, five of Braxton’s works.

Norton utilizes small percussion instruments, vibes, and marimba as contrapuntal and exploratory devices throughout his quaintly organized and cleverly arranged passages with Ms. Min. On this release, Braxton’s geometrically inclined – new music type works are radiantly enacted. ...

Kevin Norton (Barking Hoop: In Context/Out of Context

by Glenn Astarita
March 1, 2001

Drummer/percussionist and modern jazz composer Kevin Norton continues to infuse previously applied concepts and practices into novel ways and means of exploring the outer boundaries of swing, bop and improvisation, witnessed on this trio set titled, In Context/Out of Context.

Norton along with frequent collaborators, saxophonists Bob DeBellis and David Bindman embark upon the bass-less trio route as the band explores rhythmic variations in concert with, alternating dialogue and triggered responses. The leader commences the production with a shrewdly concocted ...